Light Years Charm a class apart as Zac Purton smashes in another Sha Tin treble

South China Morning Post

10-05-2025

Light Years Charm ran out a very impressive winner of the Class Three Lung Mun Handicap (1,400m) and rounded off another Sha Tin treble for champion jockey Zac Purton on Saturday.
It was a second career win for David Eustace's promising galloper, who gave his $1.5 backers some heart-in-mouth moments on the way to an ultimately cosy head success.
Purton settled the Rubick gelding in the rear of midfield and as they straightened up off the turn, he was cruising and desperately looking for racing room as the taps were turned on.
As is customary, Purton took the daring route up the rails and spied a gap between the weakening Meowth and New Forest, surging to the front in a matter of strides to fend off the fast-finishing Juneau Pride.
Check out this ride! 🙌
Timed to perfection, Rubick gelding Light Years Charm scores a sweet win with @zpurton for @EustaceRacing at Sha Tin... #LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/0bMtO10x1R — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 10, 2025
It was a masterful bit of race riding when it mattered, though Purton did admit that luck played a small part in the finish.
'He doesn't make it easy for himself at the start. It didn't help that prior to the start, he was able to pop the gate open and reverse himself back out so he was thinking he was going to do the same thing again,' Purton said.
'So he was right on the back of the gates and flopped out. They didn't go fast which was a concern and I was in a bad spot, so I had no option but to ride for luck – and luckily the runs came.
'He won well and there's more to come because he cooks himself before the start. Next season, hopefully he's better.'
Class 3 bound! The rising Flash Current is an impressive winner with champion jockey @zpurton for Jimmy Ting at Sha Tin... ⚡️#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/3fsCONWf5a — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 10, 2025
That might not be it for the lightly raced four-year-old this season, however, with Eustace aiming to get another run in before the campaign is out.
'He misses the start, which doesn't help, but he's got a huge engine and got an absolutely fantastic ride from Zac. It was a 10-out-of-10 effort from him,' said Eustace.
'There's a Class Two in four weeks which fits in very well so we'll go there – that might be his last run of the season but we'll have to see. It's going to be a step up in grade – is he good enough? We'll have to see.'
Light Years Charm was the final leg of Purton's treble, with the Australian getting off the mark when Flash Current trotted to victory in the Class Four Tuen Mun Public Riding School Handicap (1,400m).
Serious talent! 🤯
All Too Hard youngster Patch Of Stars cruises home for consecutive wins as @zpurton makes it an early double at Sha Tin... ✌️#LoveRacing | #HKracing pic.twitter.com/tMEvSx3o6K — HKJC Racing (@HKJC_Racing) May 10, 2025
After travelling sweetly in midfield, the pair came into the straight tanking and when Purton let his mount down, they surged to the front to beat Riding Together.
Easy wins was the theme for Purton's Saturday, with his success on Patch Of Stars in the Class Four Lei Yue Mun Public School Handicap (1,400m) one of his easiest of the entire season.
Settled in the box seat behind the leader, Purton switched out at the top of the straight and Patch Of Stars' response was immediate when ridden, flashing clear in a matter of strides in the style of a horse with much more to offer.
'He's only three, still learning and does a little bit wrong,' Purton said. 'He wants to grab the bit and get a bit aggressive in the run and in the straight, he was hanging in quite bad.
'I think there's a little bit more there and next season when he's a bit more mature, he'll start to show his best.'